Method of and machine for applying metal covers to automotive vehicle springs



Nov. 20, 1934. J. BROWN' 1,981,162

. METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR APPLYING METAL COVERS TO AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE SPRINGS Filed July 16, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 mwmx ib) Jim/775 fl/WM? W l} E Nov. 20, 1934.

J. BROWN 1,981,162 METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR APPLYING METAL COVERS TO AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE SPRINGS Filed July 16, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 {o o l Nov. 20, 1934. J. BROWN 1,981,162

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR APPLYING METAL COVERS TO AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE SPRINGS Filed July 16, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 csmaum 4 /27/775 firm/7 NOV. 20, 1934. J BROWN METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR APPLYING METAL COVERS TO AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE SPRINGS Filed July 16 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 I l I IHHHI I I l I z 1 k/n n H nu.

Nov. 20, 1934. J. BROWN 1,981,162

' METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR APPLYING METAL COVERS TO AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE SPRINGS Filed July 16, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 5v Nov. 20, 1934.

AZ]? Egg/Z 7 J. BR METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR APPLYING METAL COVERS T0 AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE SPRINGS Filed July 16, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Nov. 20,1934

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR APPLYING METAL COVERS TO AUTOMOTIVE VE- HICLE SPRINGS Jerome Brown, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Briggs & Stratton Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application July 16, 1930, Serial No. 468,285

42 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved method of and machine for applying metal covers to automotive vehicle springs.

Heretofore, where vehicle springs have been equipped with covers they have been applied by hand. This procedure obviously was a slow, cumbersome task and the nature of the finished work was far from satisfactory. It is, therefore an object of this invention to provide a simple and eflicient machine for quicklyapplying metal spring covers to vehicle springs.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine of the character described having means for compressing the spring and means whereby a cover blank is formed about the spring as it is compressed.

I Another object of this invention is to provide a machine of the character described whereby a metal spring cover may be applied to a vehicle spring with its seam, or point of connection, dis-.

posed in a straight line extending longitudinally along the bottom of the spring.

And a further object of this invention is to provide an improved machine of the character described which is divided into units to enable several operators to work simultaneously and perform different steps in the operation to speed up the work.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction, com bination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodi-, ment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention constructed according to the best mode I have so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a machine for applying metal covers to vehicle springs constructed in accordance with my invention and illustrating the relation of its several units;

Figure 2 is an enlarged front elevational view with parts broken away and in section, of one of the press units employed to flatten or compress, and release the springs before and after the application of their covers;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of one end of the seam looking or forming unit of the machine, parts being broken away and in section to illustrate structural details; I

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the unit illus trated in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged cross sectional taken Figure 6 is a perspective view of a cover blank as it appears preparatory to its formation about a spring;

Figure '7 is a perspective detail view of one end portion of a cover positioning or holding guide which is provided to retain the covers in proper relation to a spring duringtheir application thereto;

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view taken through the center of a spring and illustrating the manner in which the same is locked in a flattened or compressed state;

Figure 9 is a cross sectional view taken through Figure 3 on the plane of the line 9-9;

Figure 10 is a view diagrammatically illustrating the first step inthe applicationof a cover to a spring; and

Figures 11, 12, 13and 14 are views similar to Figure 10 illustrating diagrammatically progressive steps in the application of a cover to a spring.

Referring now more particularly to the accomthrough Figure 3 on the plane of the line panying drawings, in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral 1 represents a track structure suitably fabricated from structural steel or the like and comprising longitudinal rails 2 preferably formed of channel iron and maintained in proper spaced relation by a plurality of vertical supporting legs 3. The track structure is long enough to embrace all of the units of the machine, which in the present instance are a loading press unit 4, a seam looking or forming unit 5, and an unloading press unit 6.

The vehicle springs S are carried along the track structure from one unit to the other in carriages or dollies '7 provided with flanged wheels 8 adapted to track along the rails 2. Each spring, prior to being positioned on a carriage, is preferably wrapped with a suitable fabric such as can vas, which has been previous to its application to the spring, coated on its inner surface with a suitable lubricant. The wrapping of the springs with fabric forms no part of this invention and is therefore not illustrated, and for clearness, the springs wherever they are shown in the several views, are illustrated without the fabric covering, although it is to be understood that this covering is applied prior to the application of the metal to the cover.

After a springhas been suitably prepared by having its ends wrapped with lubricated fabric, it is placed onone of the carriages or'dollies 7 upon which a pair of cover blanks 9 (see Figure 6) has been properly positioned in a manner to be later described. The carriage carrying the spring with the cover blanks in engagement therewith is then moved along the track structure to the loading press unit 4, where the spring is flattened or compressed and locked in said position. During the compression of the spring, the cover blanks are formed about the spring ends. The carriage is next moved to the seam locking unit 5 where the meeting edges of' the cover are locked together, and from this unit the-carriage is moved to the unloading press 6 where the spring is released for removal from its carriage.

Each one of the three units may be readily controlled by one operator so that the total number of operators necessary to perform the work is only three, and as will become apparent as the description proceeds, the operation of each unit is extremely simple.

The machine of this invention is obviously not limited to the application of any one particular form of metal cover, but it has been found that covers such as illustrated in Figure 6 are particularly well suited for the purpose, and have many advantages over existing constructions. These covers are made in pairs, right and left and illustrated in Figure 6, and are of one piece construction divided into three sections connected at their medial portions by lapped joints 10, so that the adjacent ends of the sections overlap throughout the entire width of the cover. It is noted that they are partially formed, but still substantially flat. This reduces the cost of their manufacture and enables the same to be shipped, nested one within the other. It is also noted that the cover blanks are tapered in length to accommodate the increasing cross section of the springs toward the centers. I

The widest end of the cover blanks is provided with a pair of spaced apertures 11 and a central recess 12 for the reception of a pair of tangs 13 and a tongue 14 formed on the end of a disappearing guide 15 carried by a cover holding member 16. The member 16, one of which is provided for each end of the spring as best illustrated in Figure 2, is tapered in thickness and has its thin end which carries the disappearing guide 15 adjacent the central portion of the spring S and its thick or heavy end resting on the bottom 17 of the carriage or dollie 7 which carries the spring; For lightness, the members 16 may be formed of wood protected by metal side pieces 18 and friction plates 18'.

To permit the disappearing guides 15 to be forced down beneath the top surface of the members 16, their thin ends are cut away, as at 19, and the disappearing guide is carried by a spring blade 20 its best illustrated in Figure 2, the heavy or thick ends of the cover positioning members 16 have notches or recesses 21 extending downwardly from their upper surfaces for the reception of the .curled spring ends 22, and to properly locate the springs in the carriage, one of the members 16 has its outer end engaged with a pin 23 removably positioned in one of a plurality of openings 24 in the carriage bottom 17. A number of openings 24 are provided to accommodate different sprin lengths.

The bottom of each cover positioning member 16 has a depression or cavity 25 in which one end of a substantially hair-pin shaped leaf spring 26 is secured. The other end of the spring 26 rests on the carriage bottom 17 to yieldably retain the inner thin end of the member 16 and consequently the cover carried thereby upwardly against the under surface of the spring S. It is noted that the members 16 are of such height at their outer ends that the covers are entirely above the top marginal edges of the carriage side walls 2'7.

With a spring S properly positioned in its carriage, the carriage is rolled along the track structure into alignment with the loading press unit 4, and to hold the carriage at its proper relative position to the press unit 4, the forward edge of the carriage is provided with a stop block 28, see Figure 3, the leading lower portion of which is beveled, as at 29, and the under surface of which is provided with a recess 30 into which a stop pin 31 is yieldably urged. Stop pins 31 are also provided at the seam forming unit 5 and the unloading press unit 6. p

The pins 31 are carried at the free ends of spring members 32 the opposite ends of which are fixed to suitable supports 33 and a handle controlled releasing mechanism 34 is provided to move each pin 31 out of the carriage carried stop block recesses to release the carriages for movement.

With the carriage properly positioned and held against movement by the stop structure just described, at the loading press 4, the operator at this unit causes an air cylinder 35 to eject its plunger 36 and flatten or compress the spring S. The under surface of the plunger 36 is engaged with the adjacent upwardly bowed medial portion of the spring, and to protect the spring, a block 37 is preferably provided. A U shaped strap 38 is also engaged over the central portion of the spring prior to its depression by the plunger 36, the ends of which are elongated to project beyond the spring and straddle the adjacent central portion of the carriage bottom 17, and have aligned openings 39 adapted to receive a key 40, see Figure 8, when the spring is fully compressed to lock the spring in its carriage, as will be readily apparent.

Each carriage, it is noted, forms substantially an elongated trough-like mould above which the covers are supported to be forced down and about a spring as it is compressed, and as best illustrated in Figure 10, the covers prior to being formed about a spring, are'curved upwardly along their longitudinal axes and have their sides sharply folded, as at 9' and 10'. The extreme marginal edges of the sides 9' and 10' are again directed at an angle to provide, respectively, an

edge 11' and a channel defined by edge portions 12' and 13'.

Depression of the spring by the unit 4 thus causes the covers to form themselves about the spring so that when the spring is fully compressed to lie wholly within the trough-like mould or channel of the carriage, the cover blanks will 1' have assumed their positions illustrated in Figure 5, with their edges 11 disposed within the channels defined by the edge portions 12 and 13', and

ISO

to prevent wear on the carriage sides 27, their inner faces are preferably lined with plates 41 of suitably hardened metal.

With the spring fully compressed and the covers formed about its ends, and with the key 40 in position to lock the spring to the carriage, the operator at the-unit 4 raises the plunger 36 and releases the carriage stop to permit the carriage to be moved along the track structure to the seam forming unit 5.

The seam forming unit is composed of two similar sections each adapted to operate on one end of the spring, and each section includes a hinged head 42 mounted, as at 43, from a pair of brackets 44 secured to the rails 2 of the track structure. There are two brackets 44 for each section and their ends to which the heads are pivotally connected, are located just inwardly of the end plates 45.

The end plates 45 of the hinged heads 42 are connected by longitudinally extending substantially T shaped rails 46 and in the present instance the rails 46 and the end pieces 45 are cast as an integral unit, but it is readily apparent that the rails 46 may be secured to the end pieces in any conventional manner. At the forward portion of the heads and between their end plates are pivotally mounted jaws 47 having curved forward walls 48 for a purpose to be later described.

The jaw 47 of each section is part of a casting or forging which extends from one end plate 45 to the other and is provided with rearwardly projecting ears 49 at spaced points along its length which have axially aligned apertures to receive a pivot pin or rod 50 which extends entirely across the length of the jaw and has its ends projected through elongated. openings 51 in the end plates 45 to be secured in bearing members 52.

The bearing members 52, as best illustrated in Figure 9, are formed on the outer ends of ,plungers 53 which are slidably mounted in spring housings 54, pivoted as at 55, from the end plates and in which springs 56 are confined to normally yieldably urge the bearing members 52 outwardly to engage the pivot rods 50 with the outermost ends of the elongated openings 51. The jaw 47 is thus mounted for pivotal movement about the axis of the rod 50 and to normally hold the same against rocking, locking dogs 57 are carried by the jaw to have their outer ends extended into keeper openings 58 formed in the end plates 45.

The locking dogs 57 are slidably mounted in guideways 59 and are yieldably extended to their operative positions by expansive springs 60, see Figure'3. Each locking dog 57 has one end of a link 61 pivotally connected therewith as at 62, andthe other ends of the links are pivotally connecte with rack bars 63 slidably mounted in a housing 64 and meshed with a pinion 65 rotatable by means of a handle 66 projecting upwardly from the housing 64, sethataction of the handle simultaneously withdraws both locking dogs 57 against the action of their springs 60 and releases the jaw 47 for rocking movement about its pivotal mounting for a purpose to be later described, handles 67 rigidly connected with the jaw and projecting upwardly being provided to enable an operator to rock the jaw.

Mounted adjacent the jaw 47 is a second jaw 68, whichlike the jaw 47 extends from one end plate 45 to the other and is also mounted for rocking movement about the axis of the rod 50, To accommodate the ears 49 which extend from the jaw'47, the jaw 68 is cut away, and at three intermediate points the jaw 68 is provided with gear segments 69, one gear segment being located at approximately the center of the jaw and the other two being in line with a second pair of handles '70, the inner ends of which are pivotally mounted by a rod 71 having its end portions fixed to the inner ends of the handles and journaled in bearings formed in rearwardly extending ears '72 of the jaw 47.

The innermost ends of the handles are provided with gear teeth 73 which mesh with the outermost gear segment 69 formed on the jaw 68 so that movement of the handles 70 about their pivotal mounting imparts an opposite movement to thejaw 68, and to assist the gears formed on the inner ends of the handles 70, a pinion 74 is fixed to the shaft 71 to mesh with the medial gear segment 69 of the jaw 68.

Both hinged heads 42 are normally in an inoperative position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig-' ure 5, with their jaws 47 and 68 out of alignment with the track structure and the carriages movable therealong; and to actuate the hinged heads to and from their two positions, air cylinders 75 are provided. The lower ends of the air cylinders 75 are pivotally mounted from brackets 76 carried by the track structure and their plungers or rods 77 are pivotally connected with the hinged heads through brackets 78 fixed to their T shaped rails 46.

The operation of the air cylinders 75 is, of course, controlled by a suitable valve, not shown, connected with the supply line to the cylinder, and when a carriage carrying a spring'is moved into alignment with the seam forming unit and is locked in position by the stop device hereinbefore described, the operator in charge of this unit causes the cylinders 75 to lower the hinged heads to their operative position over the spring ends, such movement of the hinged heads being limited by the engagement of portions 79 of the end plates 45 with the upper marginal edge of the adjacent carriage side 27.

During the lowering of the hinged heads 42 over the spring in the carriage, the jaws 47 and 68 straddle the interlocked marginal edges of the covers with the inner surfaces of the jaws 47 engaging the vertical portion 12 of the channel shaped marginal edge. The interlocking of the marginal edges of the cover takes place automatically during the compression of the spring at the loading press unit 4, but if for any reason the cover portions 9' and 10 are not snugly engaged with the spring, the jaws 47 and 68 press these portions into their proper positions.

With the interlocked marginal edges of the cover disposed between the jaws 47 and 68 and the hinged heads held in operative position by their cylinders 75, the operator at the seam forming or looking unit pulls both handles 70 toward the front of the machine which rocks the jaws 68 in a counterclockwise direction with respect to Figure 5, to move the same toward the jaws 47, thus impinging the diagonally extending extreme marginal edge 13' down onto the edge 11' as illustrated in Figure 11.

It is then desirable to tip the marginal edges toward the left with respect to Figure 11, to the position illustrated in Figure 12, and to permit this operation the handles 66 are actuated to withdraw the locking dogs 57 from their keeper recesses 58 and release the jaws 47 for pivotal movement. However, it is essential that the axis about which the rocking motion is to take place, be located at the extreme outer edges of the jaws 68, or in other words, at the base of the impinged marginal edges; and to accommodate this motion is the function of the elongated openings handles 70 and 67 are held together and both jaws are rocked simultaneously, the jaw structures pivoting about the outermost edge of the jaws 68. Obviously this motion requires that the pivot rod of each head swing in an arc having as its center the point of fulcrum which is the outermost edge of the jaw 68. The elongated openings 51 in the end plates are thus struck on an are having as their centeis a point coinciding with the outermost edge of the jaw 68 when the same is in its position illustrated in Figures 11 and 12, and the bearings 52 which carry the pivot rod 50 are moved against the action of their springs 56 to accommodate the swing of the pivot rod in the described arc.

Rocking of the jaws 47 and 68 about the longitudinal outermost edge of the jaw 68 places an excessive strain upon the rods 50, and to relieve the same of this strain and to prevent binding, an auxiliary support is provided for the jaw 68. This support comprises four arms' 83 fixed to each jaw 47, and provided with downwardly depend-- ing rear portions 84, the forward edges of which are struck on an arc eccentric to the normal axis of the rod 50, and fixed to the jaw 68 at points in alignment with the arms 83 are segmental wings 85 also struck .on an arc eccentric to the normal axis of the rod 50.

With the jaws separated as illustrated in Figure 5, the curved surfaces of the downwardly depending portions of the arms and the wings 85 are spaced from each other, but when the handles 70 are actuated to rock the jaw 68 about the axis of the rod 50 to move the same toward the jaw 47, the wings 85 move toward and engage the depending portions 84 so that the stress incidental to the rocking motion hereinbefore defined about the outermost edge of the jaw 68 is imparted directly to the arms 83 thus relievingthe rod 50 of all strains. 1

The rearward movement of the jaws 4'7 and 68 to tip the impinged marginal edges of the cover islimited by the engagement of a stop member 86 carried by one of the arms 83 with a portion of the T shaped rail 46 and the degree of rocking movement is preferably such that the marginal edges are moved approximately 5 to 10 degrees froma vertical position. I

The impinged cover edges are then in position to be rolled over or struck down, but before this is done, the handles 70 are moved rearwardly until they engage theirstops 87 toseparate the jaws,

as illustrated in Figure 13. The action of the gated openings 51.

springs 56 immediately upon separation of the jaws, moves the pivot rods 50 to their normal 10- cations engaging the outermost ends of the elon- Then with the jaws separated, the operator pulls the handles 6? forwardly and downwardly to roll the curved surface 48 of each jaw 4'7 over the edges of the cover as illustrated in Figure 14. During this operation, the yielding pressure exerted by the air cylinders maintain the jaws 47in snug engagement with the top of the spring as it rolls over the interlocked edges.

The hinged heads are then returned to their normal vertical positions and thelocking dogs 57 re-engaged with their keeper recesses 58, and

after the air cylinders withdraw the hinged heads toinoperative position, the operator rolls the carriage and causes the same to be moved to the un loading press unit 6. At this unit, the operation described in connection with the loading press 4 is reversed, i. e., the operator lowers the cylinder plunger 36 sufficiently to loosen and withdraw the key 40 and then raises the plunger to release the spring.

The carriage carrying the spring is then moved along the track structure to a suitable discharging point where the completely covered spring is removed and the carriage returned to the starting point on the track structure in any suitable manner, not shown.

In the foregoing description, the operation of the seam forming or looking unit, is described as being controlled by a single operator, but it is readily apparent that two operators might work simultaneously at this unit, each one controlling one section or coveringhalf of the spring. This unit might also be slightly modified to tie both sections together to permit a single set of actuating elements to suflice for both, without deviating from the spirit of the invention. However, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which an invention -of the character described, appertains, that I provide a novel method of and an extremely simple and efficient machine for applying sheet metal covers to vehicle springs.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a device for applying a cover to a normally bowed vehicle leaf spring, means for compressing the spring to flatten the same, and common means for supporting the cover in the path of the spring as it is flattened and for forming the cover about the spring.

2. In a device for applying a cover to a vehicle spring, an open trough, means for supporting the cover over the open trough, and means for moving the spring into the trough to form the cover about the spring as the spring is moved.

3. In a device for applying a cover to a vehicle spring, means for supporting the cover spaced from the spring, means for moving the spring toward the support, and means whereby the cover is formed about the spring as the spring is moved toward the support.

4. In a device for applying a cover to a vehicle spring, a support for the cover, means for moving the spring toward the support, means whereby the cover is formed about the spring as it is moved with its marginal edgeportions in juxtaposition, and means for forming a seam of said marginal edge portions.

5. In a device for applying a cover to a vehicle spring, a spring support having a channel into which the spring is movable, means for maintaining an unformed cover above the channel, and means for moving the spring into the channel, the walls of thechannel cooperating with the spring as it is moved therein to about the spring.

6. In a device for applying a cover to a vehicle spring, a spring support having a channel into which the spring is movable, guide means for form the cover maintaining an unformed cover in proper relation to the spring before and during movement of the spring into the channel of its support, and means for moving the spring into said channel, the walls of the channel cooperating with the spring to form the cover about the spring as it is moved into the channel.

7. In a device for applying a cover to a normally bowed vehicle spring, a support for the spring, means for supporting an unformed cover between thespring support and the spring and independent of the spring, means for compress-' ing the spring to flatten the same, and means whereby the unformed cover is formed about the spring as it is compressed.

8. In a device for applying a cover to a normally bowed vehicle spring, means for supporting the ends of the vehicle spring, means for supporting the cover between said spring support and the spring, means engageable with the middle portion of the'spring for compressing the same toward the support for its ends, and means whereby the cover is formed about the spring as it is compressed. I

9. In a device for-applying a cover to a normally bowed vehicle spring, a support for the spring ends, a supportfor the middle portion of the spring, means for producing relative movement between said supports to flatten the spring, and means for forming the cover about the spring.

10. In a device for applying a cover to a normally bowed vehicle spring, a support for the spring ends, a support for the middle portion of the spring, means for producing relative movement between said supports to flatten the spring, and means for forming the cover about the spring as it is flattened.

11. In a device for applying a cover to a vehicle spring, means for forming the cover about three sides of the spring with its marginal edge portions interlocked at the fourth side, complementary jaw members for clinching the interlocked marginal edges, and means for striking the clinched marginal edge portions over to form a seam.

12. In a device for applying a. cover to a vehicle spring, means for forming the cover about the spring with its marginal edge portions interlocked, complementary jaw members for clinching the interlocked marginal edges, and means whereby one of the jaw members may be moved to strike the clinched marginal edge portions over to form a seam.

13. In a device for applying a cover to a vehicle spring, means for forming the cover about the spring with its marginal edge portions interlocked, complementary jaw members for clinching the interlocked marginal edge portions, means whereby the clinched edge portions are tipped out of vertical position by said complementary jaw members, and means for striking over the clinched marginal edge portions to form a seam.

- 14. In a machine for applying a cover to a vehicle spring, a movable spring support, a press unit for compressing the spring to lie substantially flat on said movable support, means whereby the cover is formed about the spring with its marginal edge portions adjacent as the spring is compressed, means for locking the spring in its compressed state to the movable support for movement away from the press unit, a seam forming unit with which the movable spring support and the spring carried thereby is alignable, and means for actuating said seam forming unit to form the adjacent edges of the cover into a seam to lock the cover on the spring.

15. In a machine for applying a cover to a vehicle spring, means for forming a seam on the marginal edges of the cover to lock the same on the spring, including pivotally connected jaw members extending throughout the length of the cover marginal edges, means swingingly mounting the pivotally connected jaw members for movement into and out of engagement with the marginal edges of the cover, and means for actuating the jaw members.

16. A device for locking two adjacent marginal edges of a metal vehicle spring cover to form a seam, comprising a pair of pivotally connected jaw members, a swinging support mounting the jaw members for movement into and out of engagement with the vehicle spring cover, means for moving the jaw members about their pivotal connection to impinge the adjacent marginal edges, means rockably mounting one of the jaw members from the swinging support and means for rocking said jaw member to strike over the impinged marginal edges. 17; In a machine for applying metal covers to vehicle springs, means for forming a seam at the marginal edges of the cover comprising a pair of jaw members, means pivotally connecting the jaw members, said means also pivotally mounting. the jaw members, means for moving the jaw members toward each other to impinge the marginal edges, and means for rocking the jaw members about their pivotal mounting to strike over the impinged marginal edges.

18.-In a machine for applying metal covers to vehicle springs, a unit for forming a seam at the adjacent marginal edges of a cover, said unit including pivotally connected jaw members, means for moving the jaw members toward each otherto perform a predetermined function on the adjacent marginal edge portions of the cover, 'means yieldably maintaining the pivot point of the jaw members in a predetermined position, means for simultaneously moving the jaw members about a point adjacent the impinged marginal edge portions to perform another predetermined function, said point of pivotal connection of the jaw members moving out of its normal position during said movement, and means for striking over the impinged marginal edge portions to complete the seam.

19. In a device of the character described, pivotally connected jaw members, means for moving one of the jaw members with respect to the other about their pivotal connection, means for moving both jaw members about the axis of their pivotal connection, means yieldably maintaining said point of pivotal connection of the jaw members in a predetermined position, and said means accommodating bodily movement of the jaw members about an axis remote from the point of pivotal connection.

20. In a device of the character described, a pair of pivotallyconnected jaw members, means for moving the jaw members toward each other to perform a predetermined function, means for rocking the jaw members simultaneously and bodily about a portion of one of the jaw members as a fulcrum to perform another function, and means for relieving the pivotal connection of the jaw members of stress incidental to said last mentioned rocking movement of the jaw members.

21. In a machine for applying metal covers to vehicle springs, a seam forming unit including an operating head having seam forming instrumentalities, a. support for a vehicle spring having a cover formed thereabout, means movably mounting the seam forming unit at one side of the spring support, and means for moving the operating head laterally to engage its seam forming instrumentalities throughout the entire length thereof with the cover.

22. In a device for securing a cover about a spring, a seam forming unit including an operating head, a support for the spring with the cover folded thereabouts and means for moving the operating head into operating relation with said spring, said means being yieldable to substantially conform to irregularities in the spring.

23. In a device for securing a cover about a spring, spaced walls between'which the spring is movable, means to support a cover against the surface of the spring to be covered, and means for moving the spring between its spaced walls to form the cover about the spring, said means for supporting the cover yielding as the spring is moved between the spaced walls.

24. In a device for securing a cover about a spring, means to yieldingly hold a cover against the surface of the spring to be covered, and means to locate the cover in correct relation to the spring, said locating means yieldably deflecting out of the way as the spring is pressed against the locating means.

25. In a device for applying a cover to a normally bowed vehicle leaf spring, an element engageable with the end portions of the spring, an element engageable with the medial portion of the spring, means for producing relative movement between said elements to flatten the spring, means for supporting a cover in the path of the spring movement, and means positioned in the path of movement of the spring for forming the cover about the spring as it is flattened.

26. In a device for applying a cover to a normally bowed vehicle leaf spring, an elongated track, a carriage movable along said track, said carriage being adapted to have a spring secured thereto, a spring securing unit adjacent one portion of the track for securing a spring to the carria e, means for forming a cover supported independently of the spring about the spring as it is secured to the carriage with its marginal edge portions in close proximity, and aseam forming unit adjacent another portion of the track for forming a seam on the marginal edge portions of the cover, said carriage carrying the spring being movable along the track from one unit to the other.

27. In a device for applying a cover to a spring, a spring compressing unit, means operable by the compression of the spring for forming a cover supported in its path and independently thereof about the spring with its marginal edges in close proximity,a seam forming unit for clinching the marginal edge portions of the cover to form a seam and secure the cover on the spring, a spring releas igng unit, and a movable carriage for carrying the pring from one unit .to another.

28. In a device for securing a cover about a normally bowed spring, a movable carriage, for supporting the spring, a spring flattening unit for flattening the spring while on the carriage, means for forming a cover about the spring as it is flattened with its marginal edge portions in close proximity, a seam forming unit for clinching the marginal edge portions of the cover to form a seam whereby the cover is secured on the spring, a spring releasing unit for enabling the spring to be returned to its normally bowed state, and a track connecting the units and along which the carriage moves to carry the spring from one unit to another.

29. In a device for securing a cover aboutia normally bowed vehicle spring, a movable carriage adapted to carry the spring from one place to another, a spring flattening unit for flattening the spring while on the carriage, means for forming the cover about the spring as it is flattened, means for locking the spring to the carriage in its flattened state, a seam forming unit to which the carriage is movable, means for operating the seam forming unit to clinch the marginal edges of the cover into a seam to secure the cover about the spring, and a spring releasing unit to which the carriage carrying the covered spring is movable for holding the spring to permit its release from the carriage and its return to its normally bowed condition.

30. In a device for securing a cover about a spring, a support for the cover and the spring, means for flexing the spring out of its normal position toward the support and consequently towards the cover, and means for forming the cover about the spring as the spring is flexed.

31. In a device for securing a cover about a spring, a movable support for the cover and the spring, means for flexing a spring on the support to move the same with respect to and towards the cover and to an abnormal position, means for forming a cover carried by the support about the spring as it is flexed with the marginal edges of the cover in close proximity; and means for looking the spring to the movable support in said abnormal position so that the marginal edge portions of the cover may be formed into a seam to secure the cover on the spring.

32. In a device for securing a cover about a spring, a substantially trough shaped carrier for the spring, means within the trough shaped carrier for supporting the spring and holding a cover in predetermined relationship to the spring, but

outside the trough shaped carrier, and means for compressing the spring out of its normal position to move the same into the trough shaped carrier,

the sides of the trough shaped carrier cooperating with the spring to form the cover about the spring.

33. In a machine for applying covers to normally bowed vehicle springs, a spring support, means for flattening a spring down onto the support, means operable by flattening of the spring for forming a cover about the spring with its marginal edge portions in close proximity, a seam forming unit including an operating head movable to a position above a spring on the support, means for moving the operating head to said position above the spring, and means for actuating the operating head to clinch the marginal edge portions of the cover and form a seam.

34. In a machine for applying a cover to a normally bowed vehicle spring, a seam forming unit including complementary jaws, means for positioning a spring shrouded in a cover with its marginal edge portions in close proximity in operative relationship to the complementary jaws, means for actuating the jaws to clinch the marginal edge portions to form an upstanding seam, and means for moving one of the jaws to strike over the upstanding seam flat against the adjacent portion of the cover.

35. In a machine for applying a cover to a vehicle spring, a seam forming unit including complementary jaws operable upon the marginal edge portions of the cover, an operating handle for bringing the complementary jaws together to clinchthe marginal edge portions into an upstanding ridge substantially perpendicular to the adjacent flat portions of the cover, and a second operating handle for actuating one of the jaws to strike over the entire upstanding ridge flat against an adjacent flat portion of the cover.

36. In a machine'for applying a cover to a vehicle spring, a seam forming unit having an operating head including complementary jaws operable upon the marginal edge portions of a cover engaged over a spring, fluid pressure actuated means for moving the operating head into to form an upstanding interlocking connection therebetween, and means for rolling one of the jaws over the upstanding interlocking connection to flatten the same against the adjacent portion of the cover and form a seam, said jaw being so formed that during its rolling action the operating head is moved out of its predetermined position defined by the limiting means against the full pressure of the fluid pressure actuated means which is thus applied to the seam as it is formed.

37. The hereindescribed method of shrouding a vehicle spring with a metal cover which consists in supporting the cover independently of the spring, but in line therewith, in compressing the spring toward the cover and simultaneously forming the cover about the spring, in holding the spring with the cover formed thereabout in its compressed state, in forming a seam at the marginal edges of the cover to lock the same on ,the spring, and in releasing the spring.

38. The hereindescribed method of shrouding a vehicle spring with a metal cover which consists in supporting the cover independently oi! the spring, but in line therewith, in compressing the spring toward the cover and simultaneously forming the cover about the spring, in holding the spring with the cover formed thereabout-in its compressed state, in connecting the marginal edges of the cover to lock the same on the spring, and in-releasing the spring.

39. Apparatus for applying sheet metal covers to semi-elliptical'leaf springs comprising, means to support the ends of a spring, means engageable with a medial portion of the spring and operable toward the supports to flex the spring, means to support a cover independently of the spring, said means being adapted to hold the cover against the vbottom of the spring, and means for impinging the cover against the sides of the spring.

40. Apparatus for applying sheet metal covers to semi-elliptical leaf springs comprising, means to support the ends of a spring, means engageable with a medial portion of the spring and movable toward the end supports to flex the spring, and means toward which the spring moves as it is flexed, said means being adapted to hold a cover independently of the spring in position for engagement about the spring.

41. Apparatus for applying sheet metal covers to semi-elliptical springs comprising, means engageable with a medial portion of the spring and operable to flex the same, means to support the ends of the spring against the force of the flexing means, said means holding the spring ends positively against movement in the direction of the applied force, means towards which the spring moves as it is flexed, said means being adapted to hold a cover independentlyof the spring in position for engagement against the bottom of the spring, and means for impinging the cover against the sides of the spring.

42. Apparatus for applying sheet metal covers to semi-elliptical leaf springs comprising, means engageable with the medial portion of a spring and operable to flex the same, means to support the ends of the spring against the force of the flexing means, said means holding the spring ends positively against movement in the direction of the applied force, but permitting lateral movement of the spring ends so as to accommodate the increasing distance between the ends of the spring during the flexing thereof without entailing relative movement between the flexing means and the medial portion of the spring, means towards which the spring moves as it is flexed, said means being adapted to hold a cover independently of the spring in position for engagement against the bottom of the spring, and means for impinging the cover against the sides of the spring.

JEROME BROWN. 

